Dangers Of Electromagnetic Waves

Question 1

What determines the harmfulness of electromagnetic radiation to people?

Answer 1

It all depends on the amount of energy the wave transfers

Question 2

How do low-frequency waves interact with living tissue?

Answer 2

Low-frequency waves, like radio waves, do not transfer much energy and mostly pass through soft tissue without being absorbed

Question 3

What are the effects of high-frequency waves on living people?

Answer 3

-High-frequency waves, such as UV, X-rays, and gamma rays, transfer lots of energy and can cause damage to living tissue.
-UV radiation can cause sunburn, premature aging of the skin, blindness, and an increased risk of skin cancer
-X-rays and gamma rays, being types of ionising radiation, can cause gene mutation, cell destruction, and an increased risk of cancer.

Question 4

How do people assess the use of UV radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays in terms of health risks and benefits?

Answer 4

Before using UV radiation, X-rays, or gamma rays, people evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the health risks associated with exposure

Question 5

What is the purpose of considering and measuring radiation dose in the context of exposure to UV radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays?

Answer 5

Radiation dose is used to assess the risk of harm from exposure to radiation and determine whether it is justified by the benefits of using the radiation.

Question 6

How is radiation dose measured?

Answer 6

Radiation dose is measured in sieverts (Sv), with smaller doses often expressed in millisieverts (mSv), where 1000 mSv equals 1 Sv.

Question 7

What is the relationship between radiation dose and the risk of harm from radiation exposure?

Answer 7

The risk of harm from radiation exposure depends on both the total amount of radiation absorbed and the harmfulness of the type of radiation.

Question 8

What imaging technique uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of a patient’s body?

Answer 8

• A CT scan (computed tomography scan) - this uses X-rays and computer processing to generate detailed images of the internal structures of a patient’s body.

Question 9

How does the risk of harm from a CT scan vary depending on the part of the body being scanned?

Answer 9

-The risk of harm from a CT scan differs depending on the part of the body being scanned
-For example the table shows a chest CT scan poses a higher risk of gene damage compared to a head scan (four times more higher)